Passages: Destiny's Crucible, Book 6

It's a testament to how much I fancy the Destiny's Crucible series that I shot up like a missile off my seat when I found out volume six was out. It's been a torturous wait. And I figure crossing one's fingers does work. It's what I done when Volume 5, The Tales of Anyar anthology, came out and I read "An Unforeseen Danger." It's the short story that alerted us that another passenger from United Airlines Flight 4382 was deposited on the planet Anyar, halfway around the world from the island of Caedellium.Passages, this sixth volume, delivers tremendous worldbuilding as we get to explore other, faraway corners of Anyar. The story concentrates on Mark Caldwell, late of Earth, ex-navyman and mechanical engineer with a toe dipped into materials science and general science. Passages charts Mark's early days on this alien planet and his own try at facilitating the industrialization of a society that boasts technology that holds at the level of Earth's circa 1700.Maybe some plot spoilers.I'll say right now that Mark doesn't leave as impactful a footprint as did Yozef Kolsko. I'd like to think that it's because he wasn't thrown into the fire like Yozef was. Unlike Yozef, Mark doesn't have to repel repeated attacks by the invading Narthani armies. When faced with an entire nation motivated by a warped sort of manifest destiny, Yozef had to push himself to exhaustion to come up with innovation after innovation to give his fellow islanders a fighting chance.Too, there's that Yozef didn't have to butt heads against guilds that grew alarmed that Yozef's "inventions" would put them out of business. On the other side of the world, Mark contends with guilds that don't hesitate to apply violence. Still, Mark's story develops more on a slow burn pace. I did tremendously enjoy his "inventions," as well as the selling strategies and other concepts of basic marketing that he introduces to Frangel. Who would've thunk it that trying to develop the spinning jenny would be his downfall? I guess you just don't fukc with the textile guild.5 out of 5 stars for this one, even if I didn't revel in it as much as I did the first four volumes, and it's because I jones hard for stories in which a community - or, in the case of this series, an industry - is being built, and Mark always on the move doesn't much offer that. It's all leisurely reading - and some bits did drag - until about halfway thru, and, then, the plot kicks it up a notch as Mark overhears mention of someplace that suspiciously sounds like "America." I can't blame the guy for being nosy and asking questions, but it's his nosing around that brings him to the Narthan Empire's attention. The plot promptly takes on a man-on-the-run aspect.If only Mark Caldwell had a Fitbit on to track the thousands of miles he'd have to travel before his journey's done. His step count would've been otherworldly. Without the threat of all-out war, the tone isn't as urgent. Doesn't mean that Mark spends seven years on Anyar doing yoga. At a strapping 6'3" and presenting a daunting presence, he gets into his share of scraps and scrapes. Skirmishes with the guilds. Wrestling with bullies. Fighting off bandits. Hunting destrex for their hide, which Mark does alone, and you shouldn't hunt destrex alone. Fending off them Narthani troops. Pulling off a daring rescue. Braving snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and the roiling seas. Frankly, as much as I enjoyed Mark's adventures and bouts of derring-do, I was the most stoked anticipating his arriving at Caedellium and meeting Yozef Kolsko, and how Yozek reacts to Mark and to another person that Mark collects along the way. The author sure knows how to keep you dangling. And I now have to wait who knows how long for the seventh book. And, no worries, there's bound to be a seventh book. The Narthani threat ain't going away.Also, Alys, that two-year-old girl, is just so damn cute.

Great loved it

If you are a fan of time travel, a bit of sci-fi, historical fiction, military actions, intrigue, and a bit of romance thrown in, this series deliver everything in spades. The latest in the series, this book is not exactly a sequel but a new story that promises to come together with previous stories in the next book. If you are new to the series, you can start here but best if you start from Book 1. If you are here, you can be reassured that this book delivers all its promises without it being Joseph's story.Mark was from the same plane as Joseph and castaway the same as him on this new planet with no hope of ever going back to Earth. He was lucky as well to be rescued by kind people and his background in engineering leads him to innovate a bit before reality bit him hard in the form of existing society bigwigs intent on suppressing his innovations by killing him. His life was far from rosy at times and throughout the book, we see how precarious his life and existence is as he journeyed from one end of the planet to the other end searching for a possible fellow castaway. It was a bit of study in contrasts as well because we can see how lucky Joseph was in being discovered by erudite and kind religious leaders vs. ordinary kindly trader vs. greedy village elders. The world that Olan painted here for Mark (Frangel) was impressive and his struggles very real. Once you started, you'll be in the seat of your pants at times wondering how Mark and companions will fare. Loved the entire story -- even if there's only an epilogue of Joseph in it. Mark was an interesting contrast from Joseph but nonetheless admirable and can't wait to see the two interact and become best friends. The next book promises to be most exciting!

Passages is the story of Mark Caldwell (Kaldwel), another passenger on the United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago, who survived the accident and was transplanted by the Watchers to the Anyar continent of Drilmar on the other side of the planet from Caedellium. We learned briefly in the first 5 books of Destiny’s Crucible of the diverse lands and cultures of Anyar. Passages deals with the experiences of Mark Caldwell in a very different culture from Caedellium who adapts to his new world, tries to build, to develop new products, and to prosper and must eventually flee a ruthless business guild and the Narthani with his wife and daughter to travel across continents and oceans in hopes of making contact with another American he has learned of, Yozef Kolsko. Mark is an older, darker and more elemental/physical man than Yozef in a darker and more demanding series of lands who must adapt and fight to make his way to Caedellium while protecting his wife and young daughter. His wife, Magen, is a very strong, capable female character who is good to have along in a fight (of which there are several). It is an exciting story and one that is difficult to put down once you start reading it. If you liked the first 4 books in Destiny’s Crucible, you will enjoy this book which, by the end, unites two men from “Amerika,” a UC-Berkeley-educated chemist and an Annapolis-educated engineer in what promises to develop in future books into a global struggle against the Narthani with advancement of technology and civilization. A third, young United Airlines passenger, Heather who is a musician, is discovered and liberated on the trip. She holds the promise of advancing Anyar music development in future books. I’m looking forward to book 7 in the series.

Excellent addition to the series. Different point of view. Gives a fuller account of some of the rest of the world. Looking forward to what's next.

This was a delicious journey towards the blessed Yosef and the promising land of Cadellium. Caldwell is in some ways the antithesis of Kolsko. He is powerfully built with a healthy sense of his own morality, This allows him to kill without much of the disadvantaging high moral ground of Kolsko. He is strong and macho while Kolsko is dangerously underestimated. In a straight fight the mild mannered Kolsko would surprisingly kill Kaldwell before he was even aware that the blade was in him. This leaves you drooling for more. I can't wait for the next book without a feeling of regret that I know I will devour it. I love this series. next year? No what will I do till then.

The story complements the other books in the series and expands the storyline to other parts of the world the author has created ,it adds to the whole series really well introduces new characters and will make waiting for the next release all the harder great read

I love this series. I’ve read them all. I finished ‘Passages’ last night and it was brilliant as expected. It’s fits perfectly. I am already looking forward to the next one! Please continue to link them all together - it really adds to the whole adventure.

Brilliant story , I really found it hard to put down. The conclusion has left me looking forward to Book 7 . Even though this book is a story on its own, I recommend you read the previous books in the series first.

Really enjoyed this new adventure in this series. Hope to have more now they are all on Caedelli. Looking forward to the next saga.